RLDS Reorganized Church Of Latter Day Saints. WHO ARE MORMONS? Mormons (known as Latter-day Saints or LDS) are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of.

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Presentation on theme: "RLDS Reorganized Church Of Latter Day Saints. WHO ARE MORMONS? Mormons (known as Latter-day Saints or LDS) are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of."— Presentation transcript:

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RLDS Reorganized Church Of Latter Day Saints

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WHO ARE MORMONS? Mormons (known as Latter-day Saints or LDS) are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints – Membership = 12 million people – Missionary Force = 50,000+ active in 162 Countries – Mormon Life: Emphasis on Family Values, Law Keeping, Temple Work, – Founded in 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr. – 4 Books of “Scripture” 1611 King James Bible Book of Mormon Doctrine and Covenants Pearl of Great Price Text

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WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR AUTHORITY? “It was inevitable, therefore, that his sermons and writings should form the basis of a substantial contribution to the literature of the Church. It follows that a host of answers will be found herein to Gospel questions frequently asked, but seldom answered with the Authoritative finality of the Oracles of God. When President Smith speaks, it is not as the scribes. (Doctrines of Salvation Preface) - What Is a Prophet? - A prophet is a man called by God to be his representative on earth. When a prophet speaks for God, it is as if God were speaking. A prophet is also a special witness for Christ, testifying of His divinity and teaching His Gospel. A prophet teaches truth and interprets the word of God. He calls the unrighteous to repentance. He receives revelations and directions from the Lord for our benefit. He may see into the future and foretell coming events so that the world may be warned.” p.47 Gospel principles

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“ The LDS Church structure has at its head a first presidency, consisting of the president (prophet, seer, revelator, etc.) and two counselors. Below the first presidency is the Quorum of the Twelve (apostles), followed by the Quorum of the Seventy (also known simply as “The Seventy”). Lower still are the stake presidencies and the bishopric. “This The President of the Church is the mouth piece of God on earth” (D&C 21:4-5). “He is the one man on earth at a time who can both hold and exercise the keys of the kingdom in their fullness” (D&C 132:7).

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Mormon Priesthood's Priesthood - “The priesthood is divided into two parts: the Melchizedek Priesthood and the Aaronic Priesthood (see D&C 107:1). “The first is called the Melchizedek Priesthood … because Melchizedek was such a great high priest.” p D&C 107: Those holding the Melchizedek Priesthood have the power and authority to lead the Church and direct the preaching of the gospel in all parts of the world. They administer all the spiritual work of the Church (see D&C 84:19–22; 107:8). They direct the work done in the temples; they preside over wards, branches, stakes, and missions. The Lord’s chosen prophet, the President of the Church, is the presiding high priest over the Melchizedek Priesthood (see D&C 107:65–67).” p D&C 84:19–22107:8D&C 107:65–67 “ The lesser priesthood is an appendage to the Melchizedek Priesthood. It is called the Aaronic Priesthood because it was conferred on Aaron and his sons throughout all their generations. Those who hold the Aaronic Priesthood have authority to administer the outward ordinances of the sacrament and baptism. (See D&C 20:46; 107:13–14, 20.)” p baptismD&C 20:46107:13–14, 20 All LDS males are ordained to the Aaronic Priesthood, Deacons are 12 year old boys, Males with Defects are Accepted (Joseph Smith had a leg defect), Priests do not perform blood sacrifices, or follow biblical rites... The Melchizedek is given at a later age, a faithful, temple-worthy Mormon will receive the Melchizedek Priesthood blessing. Mormons believe that the “keys of the kingdom”, which were given by Jesus to His apostles (Matthew 16:19), represent the priesthood authority. "Without the Melchizedek Priesthood salvation in the kingdom of God would not be available for men on earth, for the ordinances of salvation—the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost, for instance—could not be authoritatively performed, Thus, as far as all religious organizations now existing are concerned, the presence or absence of this priesthood established the divinity or falsity of a professing church." Mormon doctrine, Bruce McConkie - p. 479 "Everything on earth is subject to the power and authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood. When He reigns whose right it is, this power will be manifest without restriction and all nations will bow to the gospel rod." Mormon doctrine, Bruce McConkie - p. 476

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MORMON PRIESTHOOD’S "Everything on earth is subject to the power and authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood. When He reigns whose right it is, this power will be manifest without restriction and all nations will bow to the gospel rod." Mormon doctrine, Bruce McConkie - p. 476 (1Nephi 10:22) And the Holy Spirit giveth authority that I should speak these things, and deny them not. (Mosiah 18:13) And when he had said these words, the Spirit of the Lord was upon him and he said Helma, I baptize thee having authority from the Almighty God, as a testimony that ye have entered into a covenant to serve him until you are dead as to the mortal body; (Mosiah 21:33-34) and it came to pass that king Limhi and many of his people were desirous to be baptized, but there was none in the land that had authority from God. Therefore they did not at that time form themselves into a Church, waiting upon the Spirit of the Lord.)

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LDS Scriptures 4 Books of “Scripture” 1611 King James Bible Book of Mormon Doctrine and Covenants Pearl of Great Price

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Restoration / The great apostasy - “Apostasy from the True Church - Throughout history, evil people have tried to destroy the work of God. This happened while the Apostles were still alive and supervising the young, growing Church. Some members taught ideas from their old pagan or Jewish beliefs instead of the simple truths taught by Jesus. Some rebelled openly. In addition, there was persecution from outside the Church. Church members were tortured and killed for their beliefs. One by one, the Apostles were killed or otherwise taken from the earth. Because of wickedness and apostasy, the apostolic authority and priesthood keys were also taken from the earth. The organization that Jesus Christ had established no longer existed, and confusion resulted. More and more error crept into Church doctrine, and soon the dissolution of the Church was complete. The period of time when the true Church no longer existed on earth is called the Great Apostasy. Soon pagan beliefs dominated the thinking of those called Christians. The Roman emperor adopted this false Christianity as the state religion. This church was very different from the church Jesus organized. It taught that God was a being without form or substance. These people lost the understanding of God’s love for us. They did not know that we are His children. They did not understand the purpose of life. Many of the ordinances were changed because the priesthood and revelation were no longer on the earth.” p.105

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Highlights of restored truths - “Other important truths that the Lord restored include the following: 1. Our Heavenly Father is a real being with a tangible, perfected body of flesh and bones, and so is Jesus Christ. The Holy Ghost is a personage of spirit. 2. We existed in premortal life as spirit children of God. 3. The priesthood is necessary to administer the ordinances of the gospel. 4. We will be punished for our own sins and not for Adam’s transgression. 5. Children do not need to be baptized until they are accountable (eight years old). 6. There are three kingdoms of glory in the heavens, and through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, people will be rewarded according to their actions on earth and according to the desires of their hearts. 7. Family relationships can be eternal through the sealing power of the priesthood.Family 8. Ordinances and covenants are required for salvation and are available for both the living and the dead.” p.113

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7 And he said unto the woman: Yea, hath God said—Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? (And he spake by the mouth of the serpent.) 8 And the woman said unto the serpent: We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden; 9 But of the fruit of the tree which thou beholdest in the midst of the garden, God hath said—Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. 10 And the serpent said unto the woman: Ye shall not surely die; 11 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. 12 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it became pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make her wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and also gave unto her husband with her, and he did eat. 13 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they had been naked. And they sewed fig-leaves together and made themselves aprons. 14 And they heard the voice of the Lord God, as they were walking in the garden, in the cool of the day; and Adam and his wife went to hide themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden. 15 And I, the Lord God, called unto Adam, and said unto him: Where goest thou? 16 And he said: I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I beheld that I was naked, and I hid myself. 17 And I, the Lord God, said unto Adam: Who told thee thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldst not eat, if so thou shouldst surely die? 18 And the man said: The woman thou gavest me, and commandest that she should remain with me, she gave me of the fruit of the tree and I did eat. 19 And I, the Lord God, said unto the woman: What is this thing which thou hast done? And the woman said: The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat. 20 And I, the Lord God, said unto the serpent: Because thou hast done this thou shalt be cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life; 21 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, between thy seed and her seed; and he shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

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22 Unto the woman, I, the Lord God, said: I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception. In sorrow thou shalt bring forth children, and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. 23 And unto Adam, I, the Lord God, said: Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the fruit of the tree of which I commanded thee, saying—Thou shalt not eat of it, cursed shall be the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life. 24 Thorns also, and thistles shall it bring forth to thee, and thou shalt eat the herb of the field. 25 By the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, until thou shalt return unto the ground—for thou shalt surely die—for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou wast, and unto dust shalt thou return.

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Pearl of Great Price, Moses 4:7-25

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Pearl of Great Price Moses 5:10-11 And in that day Adam blessed God and was filled, and began to prophesy concerning all the families of the earth, saying: Blessed be the name of God, for because of my transgression my eyes are opened, and in this life I shall have joy, and again in the flesh I shall see God. And Eve, his wife, heard all these things and was glad, saying: Were it not for our transgression we never should have had seed, and never should have known good and evil, and the joy of our redemption, and the eternal life which God giveth unto all the obedient. Falling up - “Great Blessings Resulted from the Transgression - Some people believe Adam and Eve committed a serious sin when they ate of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. However, latter-day scriptures help us understand that their fall was a necessary step in the plan of life and a great blessing to all of us. Because of the Fall, we are blessed with physical bodies, the right to choose between good and evil, and the opportunity to gain eternal life. None of these privileges would have been ours had Adam and Eve remained in the garden.” p.33 Smith Jr., Joseph; LDS Classics, Latter Day Saints ( ). The Kindle LDS Scriptures (Special Kindle Enabled Edition): The Kindle Book of Mormon / The Kindle Doctrine and Covenants / The Kindle Pearl of Great Price... Unabridged (ILLUSTRATED) (Latter Day Saints) (Kindle Locations ). Unknown. Kindle Edition.